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Sunday, May 4, 2014

Mets Losing Streak Hits 3 as Pitching Staff is Roughed Up

The New York Mets struggles in Colorado
continued Saturday night, as they fell to the Colorado Rockies 11-10. It was a
struggle for the Mets pitching staff tonight, as they blew two separate leads
in the game. The loss gives the Mets three straight, as they have struggled
mightily to keep up with the Rockies in the thin air of Denver.
The Mets have struggled in Denver
in recent memory, losing 21 of 29 games there since 2007. Tonight was the
second straight season they blew a six-run lead to the Rockies
there.

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Tonight the culprit was Jenrry Mejia. For the second
consecutive start, Mejia struggled mightily. After cruising through the first
four innings without many problems, Mejia ran into a road block in the fifth
inning.

A leadoff homer by Ryan Wheeler got things started for the Rockies
in the fifth inning. A single and walk followed before Mejia got Brandon Barnes
to ground out. Mejia wasn’t helped by Lucas Duda on the play, who dropped the
relay onto first on what could have been a double-play. Instead the Rockies
had men on first and third, and made the most of the extra opportunity
presented to them.

Mejia surrendered three straight singles after the groundout
before hitting Troy Tulowitzki with a pitch to load the bases. The next hitter
delivered the knockout blow for Mejia, as Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam,
putting Mejia out of his misery as Terry Collins removed him from the game.

This is the second consecutive game that Mejia blew a big
lead in the middle innings, providing more reason for the people that want to
see him in late game situations to help the bullpen. With the eight runs given
up in the 4.1 innings, Mejia’s ERA now sits at an ugly 5.32.

Somewhat miraculously, the Mets were able to get the lead
again heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. But much like Mejia, Kyle
Farnsworth was unable to get the job done. He was only able to record one out
before giving up a walk-off home run to Charlie Cluberson to give the Rockies
the victory.

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

The Mets offense was on point all night as they did their
job by scoring 10 runs. Every position player except Ruben Tejada recorded a
hit and at least one run or RBI if not both. Daniel Murphy recorded four his,
while David Wright added three of his own. Chris Young, Curtis Granderson,
Anthony Recker and Duda all had multi-hit games of their own as well, recording
two each. The Mets were knocking the cover off the ball, as seven of their 17
hits went for extra bases.

The Mets will look to salvage the series and avoid the sweep
Sunday when Dillon Gee (2-1, 2.88 ERA) takes the mound against Jhoulys Chacin,
who is making his 2014 season debut.